Artists: Giancarlo Lopassio

Do you have any special training: I don't really have any special kind of training sorta speak. Being a self tought artist for this short time, it seems your viewed to be tattooing the wrong way. (According to the tattoo world.) Witch, to me is false. I feel there is no "right" way to do something. If you have enough passion and drive in something you will find the best way for you to achieve your goal, and be satisfied with the end results.
I've worked closely with a well rounded 25 + year tattoo artist Shawn Conn. From him I've learned a ton about the industry and how to sorta, step outta our little box that we all live in. I'm great full that someone sees the potential in me and wants to guide me in the right direction. There is a lot people out there that will discourage you along the way, or guide you in the wrong direction. I've learned to take the negativity from people and turn it into what drives me along my way.

Tell us about the style of your work: Being slightly obsessive compulsive, I try to think outside of the box a little if I can. If my client is interested in a certain style tattoo. Rather it be american traditional, Japanese, new school, realistic, or bio-mech. I will do my research on whatever style that may be. Find some history about the era those tattoos were done in. Or find the true meanings of certain tattoos. That way I understand the tattoo before tattooing it and my client gets a tattoo that is correct.
As for the style of my artwork, I don't really know how to put a finger on that one. I'm not really searching for any one style of artwork to close myself into. I just do what I like. I feel I will gain more by being interested in all types of artwork, and will constantly learn new little tricks that may shape my style in the future.

Conventions usually worked: I haven't worked many conventions. I've always felt a little intimidated about all the great artist out there. I do have family in Italy and in Rome they have a convention every year. I wasn't able to go this past year, but I'm definitely going to try to catch the next one. They look at tattooing and artwork way differently than most over here. It would be interesting to experience what goes over sea's, or even tattoo in.

Where did you apprentice?: I started in a shop where the owner didn't really know anything, let alone care about anything but being creepy to the clients. So needless to say I knew what to do and what not to do with my clients rather quickly. I strongly feel that first impression means a everything. I also understood that if I wanted to do this I was going to have to do it on my own.
I remember messing with him and making him think I didn't know anything about my machines. I would take them apart, then ask him if he could fix it for me cause I didn't know how. I got a kick out of watching him mess with it all day trying to get it to work. Ha. I wasn't there long before I got sick of working for someone who treated his shop like it was a Best Buy.
It wasn't till I asked my tattoo artist (Jet Diprojetto) if he wouldn't mind taking a look at my portfolio, witch was a little intimidating to say the least. As I respected him as artist. He recommended me to the shop that I'm currently at now. (The Ultimate Tattoo) Where I met Shawn Conn. From there Shawn was nice enough to take over and got me going in the right direction.

What tattoo artist do you most admire: There's a ton of artist that I respect and admire in the tattoo world. One being Jeff Gogue. I've learned a lot form him as he continues to amaze and confuse me at the same time along the way. Another one would have to be Shige. His work just stands out from most his style. There are so many. Thomas Kynst from Deventer, Netherlands, Vlady from Positive Vibrations in Aradeo, Italy. Andrea Audisio from Metamorfosi Tattoo in Cuneo, Italy. Alvaro Flores from Korpus Tattoo Studio in Melbourne, Australia, I could go on forever. These artist i feel di things a bit different and that's what i like. different is good.

Before someone gets a tattoo what advice do you give them?: I would have to say I would tell them to make sure that you do you research on the artist. What your putting on your body you will have to ware for ever. Go to all the shops in your area. Try to find someone who you can relate with and can understand what your looking for. Don't just settle for any artist. I see a lot of people with tattoos that the don't like them 100%. It's worth the time it takes to find the right artist for you.

How did you get into tattooing: I was always into art since I was a little. I was into really abstract things. As I got older I realized it had become a wasted talent that I had and stopped thinking about it all together. I never thought of becoming a tattoo artist until I got my first tattoo. I loved the atmosphere and passion that the artist had for something that was so taboo at the time. I was working as a welder at the time at a machine shop. Eventually the machine shop went out of business and I had a choice. Go back to another machine shop and continue being a robot, or do something that would make me happy getting out of bed everyday. I look forward to where my mind is gonna wonder each day.

What inspires you to be an artist: I would have to say the things that inspire me the most are the simple things around that most people wouldn't take a second glance at. I wonder what if you took those simple things and turned them into something complicated and difficult to understand. Would people be interested then? I've been really interested in abstract artwork lately. Kinda makes you think rather then just take it for what it is.

What kind of tattoos do you look forward to doing: I look forward to doing anything really. I've been really into doing automotive tattoos. I've seen a lot out there that are way incorrect. Makes me laugh sometimes. I like doing simpler style tattoos where I can add some details in. Kinda mix two styles. You always come up with something pretty cool.

Is there a tattoo that you haven't done yet that you are dying to do: I have a few tattoos that i haven't done that I've anyway wanted to do. Most are kinda gore abstract cartoon like characters. I don't really know how to categorize what style it would be. But I haven't found to many people that are interested in that type of thing. There are a few automotive ones that I have that are waiting for a home.

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